Learning from Struggling Readers: The Impact of a Community-based Service Learning Project on Teacher Preparation

With the growing number of diverse struggling readers in K-12 settings in the United States, it is critical to provide opportunities for students to enhance reading skills beyond classroom settings, for families to be involved in reading education, and for teachers to be better prepared to work with both students and their families. In this study, we described a community-based service learning project, the Village Project, that highlights the collaboration among the university, schools, and local community partners. Through reciprocal learning process, not only did struggling readers and families benefited from the program, preservice teacher candidates involved in the project also enhanced their understandings of reading instruction and family involvement. Following up with twenty teacher candidates who participated in the project during 2009-2012, we explored the long-term impact of the Village Project on their development as teachers, and provided discussions and implications for teacher education